Chapter 10
‘I figured it should be boiling over by now.’
Looking at the time, it was well past noon.
It meant it had already been over four hours since I started intentionally disrupting the class.
“Now, everyone, this is your new friend, ‘Calypso.’”
The moment I saw the class I was guided to, I realized it immediately.
‘Ah, these people don’t believe in my intelligence.’
Specifically, they didn’t believe the rumors that I had been recognized by Grandmother.
Otherwise, there was no reason to put me, someone who speaks perfectly, into this particular class.
Even after they received my greetings, they still did this.
‘Just you wait. I’m going to wreck this class right before your eyes!’
And my plan was a success. A huge success, at that.
However, there was one minor problem.
‘……What is this? Why are these baby whales sticking to me like this?’
I only drew their attention intentionally to disrupt the class, but it seemed the children liked me way too much.
The sparkling eyes of the babies looking at me were to the point of being burdensome.
‘……Certainly, at this age, their survival-of-the-fittest instincts haven’t kicked in yet, and they are cute. But why?’
What was with this excessive sparkling?
Moreover, they were all anxious to give me their snacks. I refuse things like candy that you’ve already been sucking on!
It was then that I felt Laila’s gaze and realized.
‘Oho, your patience has finally run out!’
I stood up from my seat and brushed off my skirt.
The child I had pushed aside made a “huaaaa” sobbing face.
“There, there. A great whale shouldn’t cry.”
“Hehe.”
After a final pat on the head, I approached Laila.
“Laila.”
“……Education is in progress. You must not speak to me.”
The woman I knew as Laila was someone who hated wasting time.
This also meant she was quick to admit her mistakes and correct them.
“Don’t you think the level here doesn’t suit me at all?”
“…….”
“Or do you need more time?”
“Indeed, I see.”
Just like that.
“I apologize. It seems I made a wrong decision by judging the rumors regarding the Young Lady as I pleased.”
“It’s okay. Any whale can make a mistake.”
Laila’s eyebrows twitched.
However, she didn’t find fault with it.
“It seems the Young Lady must be admitted to a higher class. Is there a specific class you desire?”
The moment I heard those words, my eyes sparkled.
‘……I’ve been waiting for this exact moment.’
There was a way to just go up one or two levels and enjoy a peaceful life.
But doing that wouldn’t…….
‘Reach Grandmother’s ears. It wouldn’t catch her eye, either.’
Although I had entered the educational institution, since I didn’t know when I would awaken the power of water, I never knew when I might be kicked out again.
So, I had to be certain.
I had to become a genius.
“The 8-year-old class. Put me in the Alpha Class among them.”
“……Pardon?”
For the first time, Laila’s face faltered.
Oh, she seemed like an AI until now. Even ‘Siri’ has expressions sometimes.
“I do not know how you found out, or perhaps you do not know. But the class you mentioned is……”
“The class for the oldest children in the primary institution, and the place where the most excellent children are, right? I know.”
“…….”
“I think if I can have a conversation of this level with you, Laila, I am fully capable of entering that place.”
Laila flinched.
It was because I gave her a pretty smile.
“Or, is there anyone among the kids in that class who speaks better than I do?”
With eyes that looked as if they knew everything.
“……I see. You are certainly not wrong.”
Laila’s black eyes looked down at me coldly.
For some reason, the pressure I felt was significantly smaller than the pressure I felt from Pierre.
It was the power of water. Huh, as the head of the educational institution, I guess she knows how to use the power of water too.
“But the Young Lady must take responsibility for the results of all your choices. Do you agree?”
“Laila.”
I smiled brightly as if I couldn’t feel the pressure.
“Speaking like that means you don’t see me as a three-year-old, doesn’t it?”
Those words were Laila’s complete defeat.
A faint redness rose to Laila’s face.
Is she angry? It would be troublesome if she got angry here and didn’t listen to me.
Just as I thought that, I heard a small sound of breath.
“……My goodness. Siblings truly are siblings, I see.”
“What?”
“After the Young Lady’s third older brother, you are the first to fluster me like this.”
When I looked up, Laila was smiling slightly.
“But it seems no Young Lord has flustered me quite as much as the Young Lady has.”
Before I could blink, Laila reached out her hand.
Her face had softened a bit.
“I understand you do not interact with the Young Lords, so who told you about the class levels of this educational institution?”
I thought about it for a moment and then said.
“Dad told me.”
“……Pardon?”
At those words, not only Laila but also the teachers caring for the children nearby flinched and looked at me.
As if it were impossible.
Of course, it was a lie. But I couldn’t say I knew because I was a returnee, could I?
I smiled shamelessly.
“Dad loves me so, so much that he told me every single thing.”
* * *
The teachers froze stiffly.
Among them, Laila was the only one who maintained her composure.
“By ‘Dad’…… are you referring to Lord Pierre?”
“My Dad. Is there another one?”
Sorry, Dad. I’m going to play a little rumor game
While Calypso was grinning and muttering this internally.
Laila wore a look of being lost for words, but she quickly returned to her usual expression.
‘Lord Pierre…… took care of his daughter?’
If one was a noble living in this land, it was impossible not to know the stories about Pierre.
The stories that he had never once gone to see his own children were also famous.
‘Wait…… Isn’t the place where Lord Pierre resides not far from where the Young Lady is currently staying?’
In reality, it was a place a bit too complex for a child’s footsteps to find, but for Laila, who had already witnessed Calypso’s brilliance before her eyes, a new hypothesis was being formed.
The story was that Calypso had met or interacted with Pierre all this time.
Anyway, it wasn’t a false story.
It was just that it had happened very recently.
‘……Even if one is born with linguistic talent, language is originally a skill that develops through interaction.’
Yet, for her to be able to use such perfect conversation and eloquence.
It meant a good teacher must have been by her side.
Since there was no way such a teacher existed in the building where they raised—no, neglected—children until they were three.
Naturally, the remaining part was the hypothesis she had just thought of.
Laila gulped.
‘……Perhaps, this isn’t just the appearance of one more direct descendant, but a challenger has appeared in the new line of succession.’
It was a thought too leap-frogging to have about a three-year-old, but on the other hand, it couldn’t be called too far-fetched either.
If Pierre only stepped forward, what would be difficult?
Laila unconsciously exhaled a slight breath.
……This was a feeling she hadn’t felt even when dealing with Calypso’s older brothers, those troublemakers or the Young Lords who were terrifyingly cold.
“Will you follow me, Young Lady? I will guide you to your new class.”
Thus, Calypso’s scam worked perfectly—much better than Calypso had expected.
Because even Calypso had not anticipated how today’s events would spread through the mouths of one of the teachers here and the assistant teacher, Heny.
* * *
“It went much smoother than I thought.”
I munched on the candy in one hand and held out my other hand.
However, when there was no sign of movement after some time, I turned my head while chewing.
“Master, aren’t you going to eat?”
“I’m not eating.”
“Why, is plankton not your taste?”
“……I think it’s strange for a Killer Whale to like plankton.”
“Why, because only big whales like it? Master, that means you can’t respect tastes. You’re living life all alone……. Ouch!”
I clutched my forehead.
When I looked up, water that had clearly struck my forehead was floating around.
“What exactly went smoothly?”
The culprit who hit my forehead had a languid face that looked bored and as if he had given up on life, as always.
Lately, he seemed to be showing interest in what I was doing…….
‘It’s not like affection or anything; it’s more like a scientist looking at a fascinating ant.’
Well, I have things to use him for too, so it doesn’t matter since we’re using each other.
“What went smoothly? It was smooth getting this great talent of mine recognized.”
“You mean an amoeba• like you?”
(Tr: calling someone an “amoeba” is a cold, scientific way of insulting their intelligence).
“I’m not an amoeba! My brilliant linguistic ability! Don’t you see it? A three-year-old having such a wonderful conversation even with a person lacking social skills like you, Master!”
“Do you want to add 10 laps today?”
“……is what I will try to write an acrostic poem about.”
This man, looking at him, he really is Grandmother’s son.
Looking at how he throws heart-piercing direct hits and vitriol so casually.
I recalled what happened today at the primary educational institution.
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